i used to live a hour down the road from there whilst being entitled to tax free fuel. now thats a recipe for good times.
A few pointers id reccomend.
1-Try to get a cabby for a couple laps as a passanger to see the track and get your bearings, then you can witness a bit of track etiquette etc. Try and look around the car parks for guys (usually in older crapped out cars) that seem to be doing multiple laps. these are normally local guys who use the ring alot. theyre experience will be invaluable.
2-Everyone likes to time themselves, but seriously i wouldnt even consider a timed lap until you have done 20+ laps if not more. its not a short course so it takes a while to learn, and even longer to master if you ever manage it at all.
3-Dont drive on, with a cold engine, make sure your fully up to temperature. Check all your fluids, tyre pressures.
4-When you finish the track on the final straight, slow down early to help cool your brakes. when you slow down, do not sit with the brakes applied as when th pads are red hot, it will leave deposits on the brake discs which causes vibration/warping..
5-When you leave the track, dont just park the car up and get out, go for a 5 minute drive to cool the engine and brakes down. coming out of the track, turn right, head down and take the first left and it takes you on a 3-4k loop back to the track past the petrol station. Also when you park up after lapping, do not use the handbrake as this will potentially warp a disc as well. park with the car in gear.
6-The ring isn't to bad on brakes, but when you are new to the track you will use them alot more than needed as you arent familiar with the layout. also high speed braking really punishes the standard brakes. I would highly recommend fitting an uprated set of front pads (and back if you have the cash) and change the brake fluid to a more performance orientated fluid. my biggest issue at the ring was brakes. once i had completed a few hard high speed stops they really struggled to recover, meaning i had to wait ages between laps at times for them to cool.
brake pads: try ferrodo DS2500, mintex m1144s amonsgt others. fluids i have used motul RBF600 to good effect
7- Use your mirrors religiously. beware of bikes, they appear out of nowhere and will outbrake you into the corner big style. you will also have no issues keeping up with them in the bends so allow plenty of room. there are some proper tits there.
8-if a faster car or a tit is trying to get past, indicate to the right, move over and let them past,
hope that helps. loads of us on here have frequented the ring, and are njow well and truly addicted.
